Daniel Farias
Editor-in-Chief
daniel.farias@hawks.shorter.edu
Amidst political wars and controversy, the American landscape is changing at a rap- id pace. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the 2016 pres- idential candidates, certainly pose deep-rooted concerns for American voters.
For the first time in a presidential election, both presidential candidates’ likeability is low. Recently, Quinnipiac University released a poll showing the negative favor- ability ratings for Clinton, at 43 – 51 percent, and Trump, at 33 – 61 percent.
The lack of favorability for each candidate could be a re-election of several things. First, both Trump and Clinton have managed to scar their credibility due to speaking mishaps, unstable political stances on the part of Trump, and shady political practices.
Back when the Benghazi attacks happened in 2012, Clinton initially failed to inform the American public that the attacks were of a terrorist nature. After her private emails were released, Clinton’s communication with her daughter revealed she had withheld certain sentiments from the American people.
According to cnn.com, Clinton told her daughter that “an Al-Queda-like” group performed the attacks.
On the other hand, Clinton alluded to the attacks as protests sparked by an anti-Islam video created by Americans in her public comments as secretary of state. Clinton’s mishandling of an American tragedy is seen as an example of her deception in office.
Throughout Trump’s bid for the presidency, the entrepreneur has expressed bigotry towards particular groups of people, saying he would build a wall to keep illegal immigrants from crossing the Mexican border. At many of his campaign speeches during the primaries, supporters heckled protesters who challenged Trump. Even Trump himself would turn away valid questions from audience members.
Trump’s prior business dealings with top Democrats and Republicans along with his shifting political beliefs make it dif cult to believe that he won’t all of a sudden change his stance. According to politifact.com, Trump has donated a total of $961,140 to the GOP party, while he has only given $584,850 to Democrats over the last 27 years.
The numbers show that he is in favor of Republicans, but the absence of an allegiance to one party exemplifies the uncertainty resting on Trump’s political belief system.
That uncertainty is exactly what is facing America. In the conservative sector, evangelicals divided themselves over whether Donald Trump, Ted Cruz or one of the other 15 candidates could truly return the nation to a state of peace and harmony. As the primaries winded down, the Republi- can Party got what it voted for, whether people liked the result or not.
For the first time, the Republican Party is represented by a candidate with no political credentials, no allegiance to conservative values and a shaky moral foundation. The area that was once black and white for the conservative party has become greyed by moral compromise.
According to recent election predictions conducted by PollyVote, Clinton is slated to win 347 electoral votes en route to beating Donald Trump. No matter who wins, the political landscape, as we know it, will not be the same.
This upcoming election is especially critical for the next generation of Americans. The person who gets elected could hold office for eight years.
During Barack Obama’s stint as president, the country has witnessed changes across all avenues of life, including healthcare reform and U.S. foreign relations with Iran. Obamacare has made Americans more dependent on government through healthcare.
Obama even forged a nuclear deal with Iran, which lifted economic sanctions on Iran’s ability to trade in various resources, including Iran’s nuclear, energy, missile, and transportation departments. In all, Iran would end up with a $56 billion check taken from “assets currently frozen in foreign banks”, according to politifact.com.
As the general election approaches, the American people should expect our nation to continue to change amidst the division and the conflict among parties. No matter who wins the presidency, America’s future could be in doubt.
